Music, march and speeches set for MLK Day

One-hour program to celebrate this year’s Season for Non-Violence in El Dorado County. Featured speakers include Pastor Frank Gates of the Cold Springs, Community Church, Mike Huckabay from the Center for Violence-Free Relationships, and Judy Knapp of the Placerville Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Nonviolence Coordinating Committee | Jan 15 2013

The Opening Ceremony for the 2013 Season for Non-Violence and the Martin Luther King Day Peace Vigil and March will be held on Monday, Jan. 21 at Town Hall in Placerville.

At 6 p.m. will be a one-hour program to celebrate this year’s Season for Non-Violence in El Dorado County. Featured speakers include Pastor Frank Gates of the Cold Springs, Community Church, Mike Huckabay from the Center for Violence-Free Relationships, and Judy Knapp of the Placerville Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Music will be provided by “Last Two Standing,” Melinda Velasquez and Joaquin Fioresi. Following at 7 p.m. will be the annual Martin Luther King Day Peace Vigil and March between Town Hall and the Bell Tower.

The year 2013 marks the 15th Season for Non-Violence which was initiated by Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and adopted by the United Nations in 1998. The Season encompasses the 64 days from Jan. 30 to April 4, commemorating the lives and deaths of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez.

Locally, this is the eighth year that organizations, churches and individuals have come together to form the El Dorado County Season for Nonviolence Coordinating Committee. This is an opportunity to join together with fellow peacemakers from El Dorado County and communities across the globe in making a pledge of nonviolence, putting the principles of nonviolence into action, and getting out the message about the hope for and necessity of creating amore peaceful world through nonviolence.